Dunlophttps://www.premierguitar.com/rss
en-usNAMM '18 - Dunlop | MXR Cry Baby Mini 535Q, Sugar Drive, and Classic 108 Fuzz Mini Demosjason@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26865Fri, 26 Jan 2018 19:07:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26865-namm-18---dunlop-mxr-cry-baby-mini-535q-sugar-drive-and-classic-108-fuzz-mini-demos
GALLERY: NAMM 2018 Day 2editor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26831Fri, 26 Jan 2018 19:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26831-gallery-namm-2018-day-2
PRSGuitarsMarkTremontiMT15_WEB.jpgPRS Guitars Mark Tremonti MT15
Don’t let the small footprint of the Mark Tremonti MT15 fool ‘ya. It’s a blisteringly loud 15-watt, gain machine from PRS Guitars. Tremonti has been in the PRS camp for a while, so a collaboration on an amp was inevitable. It’s based on the Archon circuit with 6L6 tubes and has a staggering five gain stages.
JimDunlopMXR108Fuzz1_WEB.jpgDunlop Classic 108 Fuzz
One of Dunlop's newest offerings was this reissue of their Classic 108 Fuzz in a mini enclosure. It shares a similar tone to their Hendrix Fuzz Face and features a switchable buffer that allows the fuzz circuit to play nice with a wah.
EVHGear5150III_WEB.jpgEVH Gear 5150 III
Eddie’s latest iteration of his EVH Gear 5150 III amp series is this 6L6-based design that adds in one of the most requested features: independent gain and volume controls for channels one and two. This feature will extend to the combos as well.
TaylorGuitarsVClass_WEB.jpgTaylor Guitars V-Class
A few years ago, Taylor Guitars’ Andy Powers wanted to design a guitar that didn’t force him to choose between volume and sustain. Powers had the idea to position two longitudinal braces on the soundboard of the guitar in a V formation, with the top of the V splayed along either side of the soundhole, instead of arranging the main support braces as a criss-crossed X. The result is dubbed V-Class bracing and this Builder’s Edition model was absolutely stunning. The new bracing will start to appear on the company’s high-end models this year.
KeeleyElectronicsAria_WEB.jpgKeeley Electronics Aria
Pedal guru Robert Keeley (Keeley Electronics) brought the Aria, a clever comp/OD pedal to NAMM. His popular Compressor+ sits on the right-hand side while a dual-voiced overdrive is on the left. A toggle in the middle allows for the order of the pedals in the circuit to be switched.
FriedmanAmplificationBE50VintageT_WEB.jpgFriedman Amplification BE-50 and Vintage T
Dave Friedman (thumbs up) and Friedman Amplification came in hot with the new BE-50 Deluxe head, with three channels and plenty of headroom, and three new guitars including the Vintage T cradled by Dave Black, who played for our demo video. The amp lists for $3,499 and the 6-string for $2,699.
MooerPreampLive_WEB.jpgMooer Preamp Live
Though Mooer is most famous for their microscopic effects, the company's larger format units are consistently impressive. The new Preamp Live, which will be available in March, has drive options aplenty, and enables you to program four presets raging from cleanish boost to raging high gain drive. There's a post and pre switch and a push-button boost as well...in other words, scads of OD and distortion flavors for $399.
GuildGuitarsReissue_WEB.jpgGuild Guitars LB-1 Little Bucker
Fond memories of '60s Jetstars in used guitar stores (and power pop king Peter Holsapple's sweet sunburst model) had us twitching to play Guild Guitars' new re-issue. The good news is that it feels and plays great. The quality is top notch, and we're excited to get one hooked up to a big amp to find out how jangly and filthy these LB-1 Little Buckers can get. It's very sweetly priced at $599 too.
DAngelicoGuitarsBedfordLudlow_WEB.jpgD'Angelico Guitars Bedford Deluxe, Ludlow Deluxe, and Atlantic Deluxe
D'Angelico Guitars began a new chapter in its storied history with the introduction of a new solidbody line at NAMM. Meet, from left to right, the Bedford Deluxe ($1,199), the Ludlow Deluxe ($1,299), and the Atlantic Deluxe ($1,299). The Bedford has a neck single-coil and a bridge humbucker that also coil-splits. The guitars also come in lower priced Premiere models.
AmpegLiguifier_WEB.jpgAmpeg Liguifier
Respected bass name Ampeg introduced a two-stage analog chorus called the Liguifier that’ll range from warm and round to a term-vibed Peter Hook sound with a quick and easy 3-dial control set listing for an affordable $99.
TokaiGuitarsTHB200S_WEB.jpgTokai Guitars THB200S
After nearly 50 years, Tokai Guitars has brought back a reissue of what was originally called the Hummingbird but is now called the THB200S, and which was originally produced from 1967-1969. It features a Jazzmaster-style switching array, a roller bridge and stamped-metal vibrato, and Mosrite-inspired single-coils. The main departure from the old design is the company's new SEB body, which features a three-piece basswood "sandwich" whose thicker middle layer has its wood grains running perpendicular to those of the thinner top and back pieces for what they say improves and quickens body resonance, sustain, and attack.
LaneyAmpsLA30B_WEB.jpgLaney Amps LA30B
We have yet to hear this beautiful little stack, buts it's hard to not be very intrigued by this new/old creation from Laney's UK Custom Shop. Essentially it's a 30 watt cousin to Tony Iommi's LA100B (the amp that made early Sabbath sound like the underworld exploding forth from Vesuvius). The LA30B you see here never made it past prototype stage, but it's alive and kicking now and we're psyched it's back. No word on pricing or availability yet, but we'd pay a pretty penny just for a taste at this point.
JextTelezFuzzFaceTone_WEB.jpgJext Telez Fuzz Face Tone
From a purely sonic perspective, we're not sure if any pedal builder is on a roll quite like Jext Telez. The Buzz Tone, White Pedal, and Uni Drive are knockouts. And if the player raves weren't testimony enough, I just listened to two engineer friends speak in rapturous tones about how killer this Detroit company's pedals sound. Now they've taken on that sacred cow of sacred cows, the germanium Fuzz Face and even through headphones the results are impressive. It's driven by NOS 2n404 transistors. The toggle is for switching up the bias, which gives you the option for a more wide-open louder twist on the standard Fuzz Face Tone. Dynamics are fantastic. The enclosure looks awesome. The street price will be around $250. Keep bringing it Jext Telez!
SanFranciscoGuitarCoAshbury_WEB.jpgSan Francisco Guitar Company Ashbury
NAMM newcomers San Francisco Guitar Company brought several versions of their Ashbury solid body. The body is a mixture of offset and Gibson cues with a subtle German carve. But the Firebird/Rickenbacker bass-style neck-through-body construction is a cool twist. The neck and body are all sapele, and the instruments all feature a zero fret and burly beck volute (if you're worried about Firebird-style neck snappage.) a very impressive debut from these guys...and fairly priced for handcrafted stuff at around $2,500.
TsakalisAudioWorksPhonkify_WEB.jpgTsakalis Audio Works Phonkify
Tsakalis Audio Works brought the Uber-hip Phonkify to the show. It not only does bubbly envelope filter tones, but it has an impressive octave circuit as well. The added expression pedal function gives your lines some added oomph.
JHSPedalsBonsai_WEB.jpgJHS Pedals Bonsai
The Tube Screamer has a rather legendary pedigree and JHS Pedals decided to pay tribute with the Bonsai, a nine-in-one overdrive that covers everything from the TS-9 and TS-808 to more modern-day mods by Keeley and JHS. To our ears, it pretty much nailed it and will likely be of interest to Screamer addicts everywhere.
OrangeAmpsBrentHindsTerror_WEB.jpgOrange Amplification Brent Hinds Terror
The big news from Orange Amplification is the Brent Hinds Terror. It’s a twin-channel, 15-watt powerhouse that features a tube effects loop, headroom/bedroom attenuators switch, and a “natural” channel that’s voices for transparency.
SatelliteAmpsScamp_WEB.jpgSatellite Amps Scamp
For those of you that love Adam Grimm's streamlined and screaming Satellite Amps but found them a touch too dear, meet Scamp--a 22 watt, 2 x 6V6 bare-bones mighty mite, that like most Satellite amps, punches like like a heavyweight just as easily as it sings. The best bit is that it's just $849, making this the most accessibly priced Satellite Amplifiers yet.
BeetronicsRoyalJelly_WEB.jpgBeetronics Royal Jelly
The L.A. shop of Beetronics has been (forgive us) a hive of activity of late judging by the abundance of custom-painted pedals at their booth. The newest star is the Royal Jelly--a super tunable and flexible OD/Fuzz. Much of its malleability is made possible by dividing the drive and fuzz circuits at the input and summing them again at the output after much filthy mayhem insures in between. You can use the two circuits independently. But there's also a top-end boost switch that you can use to take the combined sound from simply screaming to scorching. Look for a price tag of about $260.
LRBaggsAlignSeries_WEB.jpgLR Baggs Align Series
Pedal envy is a thing of the past for acoustic players thanks to the Align pedal series debuted at NAMM by LR Baggs. The result of extensive development, the stomps include a reverb, a D.I., an EQ, and the Session, which allows live acoustic players to add some low-end harmonic grit, compression and other tonal treatments that make guitars, mandolins, and more really pop on studio recordings. The D.I. will street for $159 and the other pedals run $179.
OniGuitarsRecliningNude_WEB.jpgOni Guitars Reclining Nude
One of the artsier guitars we saw at NAMM today was the Reclining Nude from Australia's Oni Guitars. And while we were so rushed for time as the show came to a close that we weren't' able to get a whole lot of particulars, the guitar pretty much speaks for itself.
SankeyGuitarsNAMM_WEB.jpgSankey Guitars
Another head-turning axe we stumbled across at the close of the NAMM show today was this organic beauty from Sankey Guitars out of Ottawa, Canada.
MaxwellCustomGuitarsNAMM_WEB.jpgMaxwell Custom Guitars
Glenn Maxwell from Maxwell Custom Guitars out of Auckland, New Zealand, came to this NAMM with his stunningly beautiful "archtop" featuring a meticulously carved—not bent—top and thin slotted vents at its edges that act as the soundhole.
NAMM 2018 Editors' Picks Livestream Day 1jason@premierguitar.com
PG editors share their favorite finds from the first day of NAMM.]]>
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26841Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26841-namm-2018-editors-picks-livestream-day-1
Quick Hit: MXR Booster Minicharles@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26645Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26645-quick-hit-mxr-booster-mini
Dunlop Announces the Way Huge Driveeditor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26603Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:07:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26603-dunlop-announces-the-way-huge-drive
Rig Rundown: Guns N' Roseseditor@premierguitar.com
finally revealed.]]>
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26573Wed, 22 Nov 2017 17:05:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26573-rig-rundown-guns-n-roses
1In 1987, Gibson enjoyed an enormous jump in sales when Guns N&rsquo; Roses released Appetite for Destruction. To show their appreciation, Gibson gave Slash this &rsquo;87 Les Paul Standard, the first of many endorsement guitars. This battered &rsquo;87 LP has been broken, burned, and abused since the first tour and remains one of Slash&rsquo;s favorites.&nbsp;
2Appetite was recorded on a &rsquo;58 Les Paul replica built by Kris Derrig. Gibson built this nearly identical guitar, and labeled it the Gibson Les Paul &lsquo;AFD&rsquo;.&nbsp; Slash tours with the Gibson replica while the Derrig remains home.
3Since the Use Your Illusion Tour, Slash has been rocking this back-breaking Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck, with a 1988 factory re-fin.
4In 1990, Slash bought a 1958 Les Paul that was the first 2-piece sunburst produced, according to Gibson&rsquo;s original handwritten ledger. It&rsquo;s too valuable to tour with, so Slash had Gibson build this identical replica for the road.
5Slash has been a B.C. Rich fan since high school. Currently his tour arsenal includes a B.C. Rich Bitch 10-string, commissioned to Slash&rsquo;s specs. Slash plays it as a standard 6-string.6All of Slash&rsquo;s guitars are strung with Ernie Ball strings (the gauge depends on the tuning). GNR&rsquo;s main tuning is standard half-step flat. These guitars get Ernie Ball Paradigms .011&ndash;.048. Two guitars are tuned standard half-step flat, with a dropped D. They also use .011&ndash;.048 string sets, with the .048 string substituted with a .052. For standard A440-tuned guitars, string gauge is .011&ndash;.048. For the two songs in standard A-440 with dropped-D tuning, the gauge is .011&ndash;.048 with the .048 string substituted with a .050. The electric 12-string Gibson 1275 gets .09&ndash;.046 strings. All acoustics are strung with Ernie Ball Earthwood .012&ndash;.054 sets. Slash uses Dunlop Tortex 1.14 mm picks and most of his straps are made by Red Monkey.
7A lifelong Marshall man, Slash tours with a combination of vintage Marshall JCM2555 Silver Jubilee heads and his Slash Signature JCM2555SL for a total of seven heads. Three amps are set for a dirty rhythm sound, (EL34 output tubes).
8Three amps amps are set for clean sound, (KT88 output tubes and a 12AX7 in the phase-inverter position). One amp, featuring EL34 output tubes, is set for his Heil Talk Box. An additional Matrix slave amp serves as a feedback generator, powering a Marshall 1960 B 4x12 cabinet onstage. All other amps feed Marshall 1960 B 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers and hidden in large isolation boxes off stage. These cabinets are miked with an assortment of mics, including Shure SM57s, SM58s, a Sennheiser 421, and a Stager SR-2N ribbon mic.
9The backside of Slash&rsquo;s Silver Jubliee heads.
10Slash&rsquo;s signal path starts with a Shure UR4D receiver that flows to a Ebtech Hum Eliminator, a RJM Effect Gizmo 1, an MXR EQ, Boss NS-2, Dunlop Cry Baby, RJM Effect Gizmo (for loops), and a second RJM Effect Gizmo which sends the signal to dirty amps, clean amps, the talkbox amp, and Acoustic DI. A Boss DD-3 Digital Delay and CAE Boost/Line Driver runs though the dirty amps&rsquo; effects loops only. In the effects loop, there is a CAE Boost/Overdrive, MXR Slash Octave Fuzz, MXR Chorus, dbx 166 compressor, Boss DD-3, Line 6 Echo Pro, and a Line 6 Mod Pro.
11Tech Adam Day places multiple wah controllers throughout the stage so Slash can rip &ldquo;Sweet Child&rdquo; wherever he pleases. The rest of the effects are controlled by Day with a Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro.
12Duff McKagan started out with a Japanese Fender Jazz special he bought with his record advance money. That bass, now stored safely at home, served as the model for the Fender Custom Shop Duff McKagan bass models. Duff tours with several of his Fender signature basses; the primary is a mid-2000s model.13Followed closely by the prototype of a new Duff signature, which will be out next year.
14For a bit a variety, Duff plays his 2017 Fender Custom Shop version of the Aerodyne model. All basses use stock Fender neck pickups and Seymour Duncan Hot Stack STK J2b pickups (more output and noise-cancelling). All basses are strung with Rotosound RS66LD .045&ndash;.105 strings. Duff uses Jim Dunlop .73 mm Tortex picks. A Hipshot Bass Extender allows for a quick D-tune.
15McKagan has played through Gallien-Krueger amps since the beginning. Currently he tours with two Gallien-Krueger MB 800 amps&nbsp;that run into two Gallien-Krueger RBH 115 cabs.
16For some tube-warmth, Duff also runs two Fender Super Bassman heads into two Fender Bassman Pro 4x10s.&nbsp;&nbsp; All cabs are miked and combined with the direct out of the MB 800s (post EQ switch on).17McKagan gets most of his tonal variety from his hands or pick, but occasionally he will have his longtime tech, Mike &ldquo;Mcbob&rdquo; Mayhue engage an MXR M109 6-Band Graphic EQ and/or an Ibanez CS9 Stereo Chorus pedal (1980s vintage). McBob also uses a Radial JX44 switcher&nbsp;for bass changes. The JX44 also has an effects loop used for the chorus and EQ pedal. Everything is powered by a T-Rex Fuel Tank. Flow starts at the bass out to four Shure UHF-R dual band wireless receivers (switching to Shure Axient Digital next year). The four receivers route into the four inputs of the JX44, out of the JX44 (four outputs, two are stereo), and out to Duff&rsquo;s two Gallien-Kruger MB 800s (one main and one backup), out to two Fender Super Bassmans (one main and one backup).18A shot of Duff&rsquo;s rack that is home to his Korg DTR-1000 tuner, Tech 21 1U rackmount SansAmp RBI, and another GK MB 800.
19Richard Fortus tours with a large arsenal of guitars, too many to cover here, but let&rsquo;s start with a few of his Gretsch guitars, including a Gretsch White Falcon and Black Falcon, both Players Edition models upgraded with Arcane pickups.
20Next in the Gretsch list is Fortus&rsquo; one-of-a-kind Stephen Stern Custom Shop Gretsch, built for Chicago Music Exchange.&nbsp;This stunner features Arcane pickups and a pearloid top. This guitar and all of Fortus&rsquo; standard electrics are strung with D&rsquo;Addario NYXL .010&ndash;.052.21Fortus has a rack full of customized guitars built specifically for him by famed luthier Leo Scala. All Scalas are one-offs and feature Arcane pickups. Fortus&rsquo; Scala signature model, the 445, has a 335-style body, but thinner, featuring a solid 1-piece maple top on a 1-piece mahogany body that&rsquo;s been chambered and vented all the way around.&nbsp;The maple cap is the same thickness as a Les Paul at the bridge. &nbsp;
22The black T-Rod Scala is similar to a T-style shape with flame-maple top, mahogany back, and two lap-steel style picks slanted away from the high-strings, opposite of a standard Telecaster bridge pickup.
23This Scala Underdog Burst has a chambering system featuring Scala&rsquo;s unique &ldquo;Sound Vents&rdquo; design.24Here&rsquo;s a close-up shot of the &ldquo;sound vents.&rdquo;25Fortus&rsquo; Scala White Spell somewhat resembles a Les Paul custom, but with a customized aesthetic and Arcane pickups.2627Fortus&rsquo; PSE is a black 335-style, custom built with a single Arcane pickup.28Fortus&rsquo; Carbonetti is an Italianesque offset semi-hollow with cedar top and a single Arcane Filter&rsquo;Tron-style pickup.
2930Fortus&rsquo; G Sharp is a signature baritone with a Jetsons vibe and a Lollar gold-foil pickup, strung with D&rsquo;Addario EXL158 baritone strings.
31Fortus tours with two of his R4 Singles, his signature amp built by Voodoo Amps (one is his main amp, one is a backup). The R4 feeds a 4x12 Voodoo cab loaded with Celestion G12-65s and Celestion G12 Alnico Golds in an X-pattern. Fortus uses WireWorld power cables on his amps, and WireWorld wireless cables and Mogami cables everywhere else.
32In addition to the Voodoo, Fortus runs a Supro Black Magick combo with Celestion creamback Alnico.
33Fortus&rsquo; signal runs from his guitars to Shure ULXD4Q wireless into a Shure UR4D wireless receiver routed through a Coleman Audio GT6 instrument selector. His effects routing and controllers include an RJM Mastermind GT, Dunlop Cry Baby rackmount wah, Mission Engineering expression pedal, an RJM Effect Gizmo, and an Eaton 9PX&nbsp;3000VA.
34Pedals include an Electro-Harmonix HOG, Joe Gore Cult Germanium Overdrive, Mojo Hand FX Sacred Cow, Lovepedal Eternity Overdrive, Arion Stereo Chorus (dates back to Chinese Democracy), Origin Effects Cali76 compressor, Salvation Audio Vivider, DOD FX25 Envelope Filter, and MXR Phase 90.
35The next drawer down has a MXR Reverb, Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe, Catalinbread Adineko Oil Can Delay, Catalinbread Talisman Plate Reverb, DigiTech Whammy, and a Strymon TimeLine Delay. Pedals run on a Voodoo Labs power supply.
36Fortus keeps a Fractal Axe-Fx II in his rack as a backup for effects and uses Graph Tech Dry n&rsquo; Glide (for those hot and sweaty gigs), Jim Dunlop Ultex Jazz III picks, and D&amp;A Guitar Gear Starfish + Active Guitar Stands.
Tools for the Task: Volume Pedalsrich@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26406Sun, 12 Nov 2017 06:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26406-tools-for-the-task-volume-pedals
Gear of the Year 2017editor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26488Tue, 07 Nov 2017 06:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26488-the-year-in-gear-2017
01_AwardGallery_Fractal_AX8_WEB.jpgFractal Audio Systems AX8
Fractal Audio System’s rackmount Axe-Fx units awakened many players to the possibilities of digitally modeled amps, cabinets, and effects. The AX8 puts Fractal’s realistic modeling technology into the pedalboard format and provides plenty of juice for most applications. The ruggedly built unit sounds stellar, and if you invest the effort to get acquainted with this open-ended device, you’re likely to be inspired.
$1,299 street
fractalaudio.com
Click here to read the full review02_AwardGallery_Godin_Summit_WEB.jpgGodin Summit Classic CT Convertible
Though skeptical about guitars that claim to be all things, Ted Drozdowski found the Godin Summit Classic CT Convertible lives up to its name. Whether he played it through a vintage Twin Reverb, a Marshall Super Lead, or an Orange Micro Terror, the Convertible sounded great and felt familiar. With its Duncan P-Rails and active/passive HDR Revoicer circuit, the versatile Convertible is ready for any gig or session.
$1,595 street
godinguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
03_AwardGallery_Jam_WEB.jpgJAM Delay Llama Supreme
Powered by a new-production bucket brigade delay chip, JAM’s Llama Supreme analog delay combines vintage tone with modern features, including tap tempo with switchable subdivisions, controller pedal connectivity, an adjustable LFO oscillator, a low-pass tone knob, a variable Q control, and a hold function. If you’re looking to craft wild new variations on a classic color, you’ll love the Llama’s expanded sonic repertoire.
$369 street
jampedals.com
Click here to read the full review04_AwardGallery_BAFerguson_WEB.jpgB.A. Ferguson Classic Class Shirley
The Classic Class Shirley is about as nice a compromise between the worlds of Gibson and Fender as you are likely to find. Light, compact, and with a sweet blend of humbucker sonorities and 25 1/2”-scale zing, the Shirley’s plentitude of sounds makes the $1,500 price tag look like a bargain.
$1,499 street
bafergusonguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
05_AwardGallery_FoxPedal_WEB.jpgFoxpedal Defector
A modern take on the Sovtek Big Muff, the Defector Fuzz boasts two independent sections: a rather gritty boost and a 4-stage transistor fuzz. A small toggle switch selects three different fuzz flavors—silicon-diode clipping, no clipping, and LED clipping—and a flexible mid control lets you beef up or scoop out the tone. This knob alone is worth the price of admission.
$199 street
foxpedal.com
Click here to read the full review
06_AwardGallery_tailspin-vibrato-front-hires-02_WEB.jpgTC Electronic Tailspin
TC Electronic’s Tailspin is, in most respects, a derivative of parent company Behringer’s UV300 vibrato. The Tailspin, however, takes that famously overachieving circuit and situates it in a sturdy metal enclosure. That makes this hip-looking stomp a screaming deal—and perhaps the best budget alternative to a vintage VB-2 anywhere.
$50 street
tcelectronic.com
Click here to read the full review
07_AwardGallery_MXR-Echoplex-Delay_WEB.jpgMXR EP103 Echoplex Delay
The sounds and legend of the original Echoplex tape delay are tough to live up to. But MXR impressed with the EP103—delivering digital approximations of the Echoplex’s ravishing echo tones and sonic quirks like tape compression, warble, and high-end decay that proved the company was not content with a mere retro branding exercise.
$199 street
jimdunlop.com
Click here to read the full review
08_AwardGallery_Sandberg_WEB.jpgSandberg Forty Eight
While the relic’d Forty Eight reviewer David Abdo took for a ride displays some obvious cues from Gibson Explorer and Thunderbird models of yesteryear, it proved to be in a class all its own. Decked out with a Sandberg V-style split-coil and Power Humbucker combo, it’s ready to rock, but it shows its mettle as a very versatile axe as well.
$3,035 (as equipped)
sandberg-guitars.com
Click here to read the full review
09_AwardGallery_MilkMan_Chocolate-Pint-Front_WEB.jpgMilkman Pint
True class-A amps usually have just one output tube, but the 10-watt, 1x12 Milkman Pint deploys two 6V6s in parallel, essentially treating them as a single tube for increased output. The Pint’s workmanship is faultless, its lightly overdriven tones have complexity, the tremolo and ’verb are to die for, and its beguiling clean tones make it ideal for refined jazz and fingerstyle guitarists playing in intimate venues.
$2,499 street
milkmansound.com
Click here to read the full review
10_AwardGallery_Dunlop_CryBabyMini_WEB.jpgDunlop Cry Baby Mini Bass Wah
Big wah in a little box is the name of the game for this new addition to the Cry Baby family. So impressed with how the Mini Bass Wah inspired funky, filtered sweeps and its ability to give bass lines a “vocal quality rife with blossoming wahs,” reviewer David Abdo found himself utilizing the pedal for almost the entirety of a 3-hour soul gig.
$119 street
jimdunlop.com
Click here to read the full review
11_AwardGallery_Lollar_WEB.jpgLollar Staple P-90
Introduced in 1954 as a more articulate version of Gibson’s P-90 pickup, the alnico V pickup—usually called the “staple pickup”—is one of the great forgotten guitar gizmos. The alnico V design is a classy, relatively hi-fi alternative to the traditional P-90, and it works particularly well in the neck position. With its extended range and extra “air” on top, Lollar’s gorgeous-sounding Staple P-90 is a stellar incarnation of the original.
$145 street
lollarguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
12_AwardGallery_Fender_57_WEB.jpgFender ’57 Custom Pro
The ’57 Custom Pro-Amp isn’t a reproduction of the Pro that Fender made in the ’50s, but it’s inspired by the original’s 5A5 circuit, which, like this new 26-watt combo, was wired into a thin-bodied cabinet. With its custom 15" Eminence, the amp offers a wide tonal spectrum and clear bottom end. A superb pedal platform, the ’57 Custom is a boutique-level product with a major manufacturer’s nameplate.
$2,499 street
fender.com
Click here to read the full review
13_AwardGallery_PRS_Sonzera_WEB.jpgPRS Sonzera 50
This dual-channel 50-watt combo features a 12" Celestion V-Type speaker and is powered by two EL34s. Each channel has independent reverb, bass, mid, and treble controls, while the clean channel has its own master and volume, and the gain channel has independent level and drive knobs. The versatile Sonzera 50 can easily cover everything from pop to blues to math-metal, and its bang-for-buck ratio is equally impressive.
$899 street
prsguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
14_AwardGallery_Digitech_Whammy_WEB.jpgDigiTech Whammy Ricochet
When DigiTech unveiled the Whammy pedal 28 years ago, it was an instant hit. With its built-in controller pedal, the Whammy was fresh-sounding and expressive. DigiTech marked the Whammy’s latest anniversary by nixing the expression pedal—at least on the Ricochet, which is designed to fit on a crowded pedalboard. With a handful of knobs and switches controlling transposition, the streamlined Ricochet provides a superb introduction to pitch-shift effects.
$149.95 street
digitech.com
Click here to read the full review
15_AwardGallery_Supro_WEB.jpgSupro Westbury
The dual-pickup Westbury is part of Supro’s Island series, whose models are based on Jimi Hendrix’s first guitar: a 1962 Supro Ozark. Cool features include an alder body, a set maple neck, asymmetrical headstock, jumbo frets, and a “wave” tailpiece. But the star attractions are the recreated gold-foil pickups, which boast an airy high end and fat, full-range sound. Oozing character, the ultra-playable Westbury sells for under a grand.
$999 street
suprousa.com
Click here to read the full review
16_AwardGallery_Epifani_WEB.jpgEpifani Piccolo 999
Epifani’s svelte class-D Piccolo 999 might be a featherweight at a mere 4 1/2 pounds, but its 1,000-watt punch said otherwise to reviewer David Abdo who bestowed a Premier Gear Award upon the amp for several reasons—one being its simple but effective EQ section. “The bass, mid, and treble controls are expertly voiced for quick tone-shaping with significant shelving capabilities,” remarked Abdo.
$1,199 street
epifani.com
Click here to read the full review
17_AwardGallery_Warehouse_AmericanVintage_WEB.jpgWarehouse American Vintage G8C
The 8" American Vintage G8C packs serious punch. It sounds rich and loud—and broken-in straight out of the gate. Installed in a vintage silverface Fender Vibro Champ, it provided superb enjoyment for at-home playing and, with a quality mic, yielded recorded tones so grand that listeners were amazed to learn they came from such a small speaker—let alone a brand new one.
$39 street
wgsusa.com
Click here to read the full review
18_AwardGallery_Weber_WEB.jpgWeber 8A125
When PG’s Shawn Hammond tested this 8" alnico speaker in a ’76 Fender Vibro Champ, he admired how it handled a wide range of pickups with minimal harshness, regardless of volume. Even with a Tele’s bridge pickup and the amp cranked, he found it virtually impossible to get the 8A125 to sound piercing. If you want a fat-sounding 8" speaker, this Weber is an excellent choice.
$85 street
tedweber.com
Click here to read the full review
19_AwardGallery_OvationApplause_WEB.jpgOvation Applause Elite AE44II-VV
Acoustically, the AE44II has a balanced sound that’s great for both strumming and gently fingerpicked passages. The bass response won’t threaten a dreadnought, but it’s still respectable. Plugged in, the Applause confronts challenges similar to those of other affordable, single-element piezo systems, but boosting the mids a bit and reducing treble and bass a tad yields impressively usable tones—especially considering the price point.
$299 street
ovationguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
20_AwardGallery_Fender_Strat_WEB.jpgFender American Professional Stratocaster
The original Strat design is so iconic and beloved that one must be cautious about referring to changes as “improvements.” But with its updated pickups, hardware, and treble-bleed bypass wiring, the American Professional Stratocaster will delight those who relish both its vintage-approved tones and the new possibilities afforded by the revised wiring. And there’s no denying the Professional’s fine build quality, zingy resonance, and richly nuanced tones.
$1,399 street
fender.com
Click here to read the full review
21_AwardGallery_G7th_WEB.jpgG7th UltraLight Capo
Since G7th began making capos in the mid-oughts, the company has found multiple ways to refine the capo concept. The UltraLight earned kudos not just for its utility and light weight, but affordability that makes buying a spare—or three—super easy on the pocketbook.
$12 street
g7th.com
Click here to read the full review
22_AwardGallery_BC-Audio_Octal-Plex-Series-JMX100-front_WEB.jpgBC Audio JMX 100
With its top-shelf components, magnificent point-to-point wiring, octal preamp tubes, and four EL34s, the 100-watt JMX 100 is impressive in terms of construction and authoritative sound. Note fundamentals are rock solid, and the crisp and definitive transients transmit every nuance of pick and finger. Hit the cranked JMX 100 with a great fuzz pedal and the amp’s clarity and headroom yield godlike saturation. A high-wattage beast for the connoisseur.
$3,000 street
bcaudio.com
Click here to read the full review
23_AwardGallery_Darkglass_WEB.jpgDarkglass Microtubes 900
This relatively young Finnish company has already garnered quite a fan base with their pedal offerings for bassists, so it wasn’t a huge surprise that their maiden amplifier, the Microtubes 900, came away with a win this year. Especially impressed with its available grit, reviewer Jordan Wagner proclaimed, “The overdrive produced by its Microtubes Engine can cover a wide gamut of tones and has enough on tap to make you think twice about keeping that Rat or Big Muff on your pedalboard.”
$999 street
darkglass.com
Click here to read the full review
24_AwardGallery_LunaStone_WEB.jpgLunaStone the Pusher
LunaStone’s the Pusher is a devastatingly beautiful clean boost that’s bound to shatter some expectations about the utility of a one-knob pedal. With said knob at noon, it gives a healthy bump without infringing on amp tone or its neighboring dirt pedals. The very affordable Pusher ups the volume without getting in the way.
$99 street
lunastonepedals.com
Click here to read the full review
25_AwardGallery_Marshall_Jubilee_WEB.jpgMarshall 2525C Mini Jubilee
A 20-watt rendition of Marshall’s legendary Silver Jubilee, the 2525C Mini Jubilee is available as a compact 1x12 closed-back combo or head. Powered by two EL34s and decked out in signature silver-and-grey vinyl and chrome, it exudes the coolness of its big brother. Both a great grab-and-go amp and studio workhorse, the Mini Jubilee delivers authentic Marshall tones across all gain and volume ranges.
$1,499 street
marshallamps.com
Click here to read the full review
26_AwardGallery_UniversalAudio_ApolloTwin_WEB.jpgUniversal Audio Apollo Twin MkII
UA’s superb-sounding Apollo Twin MkII audio interface comes bundled with wonderful plug-in models of classic compressors, limiters, and preamps—even a full-featured virtual mixer. It has enough connectivity for ambitious project studios, yet it fits in a gig bag. Equipped with two gorgeous mic preamps, pristine A/D/A convertors, and a flexible set of inputs and outputs, the MkII is a perfect entry portal for UA newcomers and recording guitarists.
$1,299 street (as reviewed with quad-core processor)
uaudio.com
Click here to read the full review
27_AwardGallery_Rivolta_WEB.jpgRivolta Combinata
A new creation from luthier Dennis Fano, the Rivolta Combinata boasts two P-90s, a wraparound bridge, super-sized position markers, a substantial old-school neck, expertly installed vintage-flavored frets, an offbeat vinyl pickguard, and excellent workmanship for its price range. Tones are attractive and effervescent at all control settings and gain levels. If jangle is your angle, you’ll be happy here.
$1,199 street
rivoltaguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
28_AwardGallery_Taylor-GS-Mini_WEB.jpgTaylor GS Mini-e Bass
After spending quality time with Taylor’s 23 1/2"-scale GS Mini-e Bass, associate editor Rich Osweiler confirmed that size doesn’t necessarily matter for pulling big bass tones out of an acoustic bass guitar. Osweiler was especially enamored with the “punchy thump and warmth that leans towards the darker tones of an upright,” and didn’t think twice about tagging the Mini-e with a Premier Gear Award.
$699 street
taylorguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
29_AwardGallery_Spaceman_TitanIIChrome1L_WEB.jpgSpaceman Titan II
With their ’60s avionics-derived enclosures and top-quality builds, Spacemen effects have become objects of lust for many fuzz fetishists. But the real appeal in Spaceman’s pedals is an audible originality, and that quality shows through brightly in the Titan II. Loud and gainy, the Titan II is less nuanced than some Spaceman effects, but it still successfully carves out it’s own beautifully fuzzy sonic niche.
$249 street
spacemaneffects.com
Click here to read the full review
30_AwardGallery_TWA_Sake_WEB.jpgTWA Hot Saké
The TWA Hot Saké delivers tons of tone-shaping power for its size and price. From luxuriantly transparent boosts that rival some of the best Klon clones (thanks to the fantastically tunable EQ) to woofy grind when you max the drive and rein in the mids and tone, Hot Saké offers exceptional flexibility for a small, straightforward, and reasonably priced stomp.
$189 street
godlyke.com
Click here to read the full review
31_AwardGallery_Winfield_WEB.jpgWinfield Dust Devil
Built to serve transatlantic tastes, the Winfield Dust Devil seems to speak most strongly in British hues. But we found that issues of accent were soon forgotten once we plugged in. And the Dust Devil proved versatile, airy, powerful, and full of brash and complex presence.
$1,700 street
winfieldamps.com
Click here to read the full review
32_AwardGallery_Breedlove_WEB.jpgBreedlove Premier Concerto
Based on Breedlove’s Concerto body, the Premier is engineered to deliver the booming sound of a dreadnought without sacrificing playing comfort. Its solid Sitka top, solid East Indian rosewood body, Honduran mahogany neck, versatile voice, and excellent playability make it a standout flattop, and at just over two grand with a deluxe hardshell case, it’s a good buy for an American-made guitar of such exceptional quality and design.
$2,199 street
breedlovemusic.com
Click here to read the full review
33_AwardGallery_Carr_WEB.jpgCarr Mercury V
The Mercury V is a perfect example of Steve Carr’s “tradition with a twist” approach to building amps. The 16-watt, 1x12 combo’s Brit-style features include a simple yet versatile preamp section that mimics the gain characteristics of Marshall amps from the ’60s through the ’90s. The Celestion speaker is another British nod. Workmanship is top-notch. PG’s Joe Gore declared it “simply one of the finest-sounding amps I’ve ever played.”
$2,530 street
carramps.com
Click here to read the full review
34_AwardGallery_EHX_Blurst_WEB.jpgElectro-Harmonix Blurst
The Blurst is an endlessly entertaining analog filter pedal packed with tone-shaping and modulation options. It employs a low-pass filter, which removes frequencies only above the cutoff point—the quintessential analog-synth filter sound. It also has an onboard LFO oscillator and offers expression pedal connectivity. With its versatile controls, the Blurst is a productive and cost-effective way to enlarge your palette of filtered tones.
$134 street
ehx.com
Click here to read the full review
35_AwardGallery_ArtLuthierie_WEB.jpgArt & Lutherie Roadhouse
Though it visually evokes a 1920s Gibson L-1, the little Roadhouse is a response to a resurgent interest in parlor guitars. The solid Sitka top is paired with a layered wild cherry body and a silverleaf maple neck, which are harvested from already-fallen trees. The Fishman Sonitone electronics make the guitar gig-ready, and with its modest price tag, the easy-playing instrument represents a value that’s hard to beat.
$449 street
artandlutherieguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
36_AwardGallery_Guild_WEB.jpgGuild D-55
The most encouraging news amid Guild’s latest transfer of ownership—and in the new D-55—is that so many of the idiosyncrasies that make Guilds special remain intact. But this guitar’s balance and dynamism also make it a dreadnought of copious practical upside on stage and in the studio.
$2,999 street
guildguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
37_AwardGallery_AER_WEB.jpgAER Compact 60/3 TE
The 60-watt Compact 60/3 TE is the third iteration of a fixture in AER’s acoustic-guitar amp lineup, and it’s fingerstyle wizard Tommy Emmanuel’s signature model. At 14 pounds, the tiny 2-channel 60/3 feels lightweight, yet rugged. The tone controls and four preset digital effects offer plenty of sonic flexibility, and the 8" speaker sounds punchy and organic. Portability, ease of operation, and beautiful transparent tone—they’re all here.
$1,199 street
aer-amps.com
Click here to read the full review
38_AwardGallery_Fuchs_WEB.jpgFuchs Audio Technology ODS Classic
The ODS Classic is ridiculously well made, and its tones are ridiculously rich and defined, with ridiculous headroom and touch response. Andy Fuchs freely admits that Howard Dumble’s amps influenced his own models, which explains all the knobs and switches, including numerous dual-function concentric and push/pull pots. The price is formidable, but the build, sound quality, and versatility are everything you’d hope for in an ultra-premium amp.
$2,795 street
fuchsaudiotechnology.com
Click here to read the full review
39_AwardGallery_Kauer_Titan_WEB.jpgTitan KR1
Doug Kauer’s Titan KR1 is an American-made guitar that sells for a base cost of $1,299. The boutique luthier delivers this modest price thanks to ingenious design and a build-to-order business model. Top-notch hardware and electronics are all standard, and you can choose from a wide variety of pickups as an upgrade. On all fronts—including sound and playability—the superbly crafted KR1 is remarkable for the price.
$1,299 street ($1,375 as reviewed with Duncan Seth Lover humbuckers)
titanguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
40_AwardGallery_HughesKettner_Grandmeister_WEB.jpgHughes & Kettner Grandmeister Deluxe 40
Powerful and programmable, the Grandmeister Deluxe 40 manages to strike a cool middle ground between the turn-it-up-and-rip immediacy of traditional tube amps and modelers that offer thousands of tone options. Reviewer Joe Charupakorn found the programmability instinctive and the onboard effects superb. But it was the fundamental sound and fury living in H&K’s circuitry that ultimately led to this Premier Gear Award.
$1,199 street
hughes-and-kettner.com
Click here to read the full review
41_AwardGallery_CurtisNovak_WEB.jpgCurtis Novak Jazzmaster Widerange Set
Two designs once relegated to oddball bins of Fender’s history—the Jazzmaster pickup and the Seth Lover-designed Wide Range humbucker—were re-imagined by Curtis Novak, builder of some of the best Wide Range repros available. This splendid set retains traditional Jazzmaster looks, with less noisy, meatier, Wide Range-style tonalities.
$150 (each) street
curtisnovak.com
Click here to read the full review
42_AwardGallery_Fender_Bass_WEB.jpgFender American Professional Jazz Bass
Reviewer Steve Cook found that Fender’s refresh on one of the company’s most iconic bass models was a move they didn’t take lightly. Calling out the slim, C-shaped neck as “lightning fast” and noting that “it begs you to play all over the neck and
as quickly as possible,” Cook had difficulty finding anything subpar about the V-Mod Jazz pickup-loaded 4-string. J-bass nirvana equals a Premier Gear Award in 2017.
$1,549 street
fender.com
Click here to read the full review
43_AwardGallery_Martin_WEB.jpgMartin 0-18
The relatively diminutive Martin 0-series guitars are unsung recording studio heroes. And this newest 14-fret, mahogany-and-spruce incarnation exhibits the concise, punchy, and zingy characteristics of a classic 0-series, with the practically perfect construction quality we see in so many contemporary Martins.
$2,499 street
martinguitar.com
Click here to read the full review
44_AwardGallery_Dunable_WEB.jpgDunable Cyclops
Brutish and simple as a battle axe, but handsomely refined, the Cyclops’ streamlined, original lines and top-flight construction dazzled reviewer Ted Drozdowski. So did the sounds: articulate, massive, singing, dynamic, and versatile beyond the guitar’s rock-tough visage.
$1,799 street
dunableguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
45_AwardGallery_Hilbish_WEB.jpgHilbish Design Beta
The original Sunn Beta Lead began its unlikely rise to legend status thanks to the Melvins’ Buzz Osborne, and the Hilbish Design Beta delivers Osborne’s massive clean-to-sludgy muscle with killer authenticity. It also provides surprisingly powerful active-EQ tone-shaping capabilities—all at a refreshingly affordable price.
$1,100 street
hilbishdesign.bigcartel.com
Click here to read the full review
46_AwardGallery_MuFX_WEB.jpgMu-FX Phasor 2X
Mike Beigel’s original Mu-Tron designs were fantastic and complex sounding, and looked hip as hell. In both respects, the twin-decked Mu-FX Phasor 2X is something of a time machine. Reviewer Joe Gore found the sounds immersive and tactile, but loved the extra dimensionality of the stereo outputs.
$339 street
mu-fx.com
Click here to read the full review
47_AwardGallery_Victory_WEB.jpgVictory V-40 Deluxe
While this English amp builder isn’t a household name, a number of recent releases—the Victory V40 in particular—are making the company a growing presence stateside. It is punchy, defined, and impressively well built at a relatively accessible price. We ended up very impressed with the V40 Deluxe’s combination of classicism and unique voices.
$1,849 street
victoryamps.com
Click here to read the full review
48_AwardGallery_BYOC_WEB.jpgBYOC Crown Jewel
Our colleague Joe Gore hinted that the Crown Jewel could be the most versatile overdrive ever. And with a modular design that enables you to re-configure modules covering everything from Fuzz Face and Klon clones to Orange Squeezer and Rangemaster-style tones, we’re inclined to agree.
$219 ($483 as reviewed with all 11 preassembled boost modules)
buildyourownclone.com
Click here to read the full review
49_AwardGallery_Friedman_WEB.jpgFriedman Dirty Shirley Mini
Given the company’s high-wattage heritage, it’s hard not to be tickled by the thought of a 20-watt, 1x10 combo bearing the Friedman name. What really tickled us, though, was the outsized and glorious sounds of the Dirty Shirley Mini—and the fact that reviewer Ted Drozdowski couldn’t actually summon a lousy tone from this little powerhouse.
$1,799 street
friedmanamplification.com
Click here to read the full review
50_AwardGallery_EarthquakerErupter_WEB.jpgEarthQuaker Erupter
Simplicity is beautiful—and mighty potent—in the form of the EarthQuaker Erupter, a vision of fuzz perfection (at least in the eyes of EQD founder Jamie Stillman) that utilizes a bias knob as it’s only control. The breadth of available tones is inversely huge to the number of knobs, however. And this loud, boisterous box happily hollers in voices ranging from splatty to soaring.
$145 street
earthquakerdevices.com
Click here to read the full review
51_AwardGallery_KeeleyFilaments_WEB.jpgKeeley Filaments
Robert Keeley isn’t known as a high-gain pedal builder. But this impressive first foray into the field is no casual bit of dabbling. And its 6-knob array and three gain stages enable a huge range of tone-shaping options and shades of gain intensity running from crunchy to bludgeoning.
$189 street
robertkeeley.com
Click here to read the full review
52_AwardGallery_chase-bliss-brothers-002_WEB.jpgChase Bliss Brothers
It’s hard to imagine stuffing more options into a 125B enclosure than Chase Bliss has with the Brothers. And none of the gajillion switches and knobs are wasted in this unit that incorporates opamp and JFET distortion circuits that can be used independently, cascaded, and tuned to deliver everything from sparkling boost to fiery fuzz.
$349 street
chaseblissaudio.com
Click here to read the full review
53_AwardGallery_GurusSexyDrive_WEB.jpgGurus Sexy Drive MkII
Rather than hone in on a single overdrive color, Italian builder Gurus made versatility the calling card of the Sexy Drive MkII—with a powerful 3-band EQ, buffers at the input and output, and a dry/dirty balance control that means rainbows of overdrive color many times over.
$249 street
gurusamps.com
Click here to read the full review
54_AwardGallery_WayHuge_Conquistador_WEB.jpgWay Huge Conquistador
Gated fuzz isn’t for everyone, but in the form of the Conquistador, Way Huge created a gated fuzz box that hints as much at spitting ’60s fuzz antecedents as contemporary instruments of doom and thrash. And it’s this ability to cover Davie Allan as readily as Queens of the Stone Age that knocked us out.
$149 street
jimdunlop.com
Click here to read the full review
55_AwardGallery_EHXCanyon_WEB.jpgElectro-Harmonix Canyon
EHX’s Canyon proved to be the little echo that could. With 11 delay functions, including Deluxe Memory Man simulations, octave and modulated delays, a looper, and more, it impressed reviewer Dave Hunter with its versatility. But it also dazzled on the purely sonic front—delivering deep, immersive delays and plenty of subtle textures, all at a dirt-cheap price.
$139 street
ehx.com
Click here to read the full review
56_AwardGallery_MerisMercury7_WEB.jpgMeris Mercury 7
Although the Mercury 7 is inspired by the legendary Lexicon 224 reverb, reviewer Joe Charupakorn found the pedal’s power and depth considerably way beyond a single authentic reverb simulation. A potent pitch vector control is the star of the show—giving reverb textures startling complexity and a range of tones that takes guitar sounds well outside typical 6-string tone spheres.
$299 street
meris.us
Click here to read the full review
57_AwardGallery_SeymourDuncanAndromeda_WEB.jpgSeymour Duncan Andromeda
The Santa Barbara company best known for legendary pickups has been on a roll with great effects lately. But Seymour Duncan went big and triumphed mightily with the Andromeda, an ambitious dynamic delay that Joe Charupakorn declared an instrument as much as a stompbox, capable of inspiring unexpected—and undiscovered—directions.
$299 street
seymourduncan.com
Click here to read the full review
58_AwardGallery_MooerModFactory_WEB.jpgMooer Mod Factory Pro
Mooer is a master of stuffing great-sounding circuits in small enclosures—and making the prices smaller still. But even by Mooer’s lofty standards (for little pedals), the Mod Factory Pro is overflowing with features, functionality, and value. Everything from tremolo to phase to ring modulation—and powerful controls for tweaking them—is on tap, all for the cost of one or two larger and much less capable pedals.
$169 street
mooeraudio.com
Click here to read the full review
59_AwardGallery_AmpegScrambler_WEB.jpgAmpeg Scrambler Bass Overdrive
Ampeg knows a thing or two about bass overdrive tones, and when reviewer Jon D’Auria got his hands on—and bass into—the company’s $99 Scrambler Bass Overdrive, he found a versatile range of drive tones. Impressed with the way the pedal maintained signal strength when pushed to the extreme, D’Auria summed it all up by saying: “The pedal can do a lot to enhance your sound—whether adding the perfect dusting of grit or full-blown, overdriven bliss.”
$99 street
ampeg.com
Click here to read the full review
60_AwardGallery_TCElectronicEchobrain_WEB.jpgTC Electronic Echobrain
Unless you’re obsessive about pristine predictability, analog delays are one of the greatest stompbox joys. The Echobrain reminded us why. Tactile, mechanically interactive, organically responsive, and just a bit unpredictable and hairy, the Echobrain sounded deep and full of character—all at a street price that verges on preposterously cheap.
$59 street
tcelectronic.com
Click here to read the full review
61_AwardGallery_Gibson_WEB.jpgGibson Modern Double Cut Standard
Though Gibson polarized some loyalists with the Modern Double Cut’s styling, reviewer Ted Drozdowski found it’s tones and playability beyond reproach—enjoying the super-slinky feel, 24-fret range, and fat, classic Gibson humbucker tones that, in some cases, bettered Ted’s own vintage Gibsons.
$3,999 street
gibson.com
Click here to read the full review
62_AwardGallery_Bigfoot_WEB.jpgBigfoot Engineering King Fuzz XL
Pairing an overdrive and a fuzz in a single pedal is no big thing. But to combine two very original, seamlessly compatible, and dazzlingly musical circuits in a single stomp is a rare feat, and those qualities made the loud, dynamic, and rich-sounding King Fuzz XL a Premier Gear Award shoo-in.
$265 street
bigfootengineering.com
Click here to read the full review
63_AwardGallery_Headrush_Pedalboard_WEB.jpgHeadRush Pedalboard
As impressive and powerful as multi-effects and modelers can be, most are inevitably complex. What sets the HeadRush amp/modeler apart is its relative simplicity and streamlined functionality, enabled by a touchscreen that unlocks HeadRush’s potency in a snap.
$999 street
headrushfx.com
Click here to read the full review
64_AwardGallery_Coppersound_WEB.jpgCoppersound Foxcatcher
It’s not easy standing out among overdrives. Yet with an ability to move effortlessly from blackface tones to Brit grit and, in particular, its penchant for extracting Vox-y sounds from Fender-style circuits, the Foxcatcher proved a powerfully chameleonic tool for overdrive tone hunters.
$199 street
coppersoundpedals.com
Click here to read the full review
65_AwardGallery_Pinter_WEB.jpgPinter SB1-J Jazz Jr.
Pinter’s Jazz Jr. was among the most unique guitars we saw all year—from it’s British racing green finish and Coral-influenced body profile, to its flatwound optimized design. But the biggest surprise was how stunningly good it is as a jazz guitar—just as advertised. And with its mellow and articulate Joshua Spataro-designed pickups and smooth playability, it distinguished itself—even among Premier Gear Award winners.
$2,500 street
pinterguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
66_AwardGallery_Island_WEB.jpgIsland Anzol
The Anzol pulls off the clever, almost audacious trick of mating the body profile of a dirt-cheap pawnshop Teisco to tip-top workmanship. Yet the sounds—airy, zingy, resonant, and lively—make the Anzol a guitar worlds away from its superficial bargain basement inspiration and well worthy of a Premier Gear Award.
$2,200
island-instruments.com
Click here to read the full review
67_AwardGallery_Hahn_WEB.jpgHahn 112
A lot of builders toy with mutant guitar design only to arrive at less-than-constructive ends. Not Chihoe Hahn. The veteran builder’s new 112 is a magnificent mash up of Gibson, Fender, and vintage budget guitar touches united in a whole with a versatile, unique voice and heavenly playability.
$1,950 street
hahnguitars.com
Click here to read the full review
68_AwardGallery_HughesKettnerEra1_1_WEB.jpgHughes & Kettner era 1
H&K is probably not the first brand you think of when it comes to acoustic amps. Still, reviewer Adam Perlmutter found the era 1 so organic sounding that he often felt as though he wasn’t using an amplifier at all. Pretty sweet for an amp builder traditionally associated with screaming high-gain tones.
$1,199 street
hughes-and-kettner.com
70_AwardGallery_RadialTexasPro_WEB.pngRadial Tonebone Texas Pro
Anyone inclined to associate Radial exclusively with tough DI boxes, is in for surprise in the form of the equally bulletproof Texas Pro overdrive. We loved the versatility of the three overdrive voices that move from an even-tempered TS-style mid-gain voice to progressively hotter and more contemporary sounds. And the addition of a very effective boost circuit makes the Texas Pro an overdrive of impressive tone shaping power.
$169 street
tonebone.com
72_AwardGallery_SViSound_WEB.jpgSviSOUND Techno FA
Shawn Hammond called the Techno FA “pound for pound, inch for inch, one the most powerfully addicting phasers on the market.” Given its compact dimensions, options for 2- or 4-stage phasing, and a bright control—all of which help you settle this modulator seamlessly into your rig—we can hardly argue.
$169 street
svisound.com
69_AwardGallery_StompUnderFootAlabaster_WEB.pngStomp Under Foot Alabaster
SUF’s Matt Pasquerella keeps hitting home runs in the form of dead-on Big Muff clones. And the Alabaster, which combines an effective boost/cut control and a near-perfect “bubble font” Sovtek-style circuit is both a satisfying turn for experienced Muff users and a killer launching pad for players new to the Big Muff realm.
$225 street
stompunderfoot.com
Click here to read the full review
71_AwardGallery_64FenderDeluxe_1_WEB.pngFender ’64 Custom Deluxe Reverb
If you think the ’64 Custom Deluxe is just a pricier, handwired Deluxe Reverb reissue, you’d be missing out an the organic breakup, tasty tremolo on both channels, and extra touch sensitivity that make this Deluxe extra sweet, and in the opinion of Shawn Hammond, worth every penny.
$2,499 street
fender.com
Dunlop Unveils the Geezer Butler Cry Baby Waheditor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26208Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:13:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26208-dunlop-unveils-the-geezer-butler-cry-baby-wah
SNAMM '17 - MXR | Way Huge Carbon Copy Deluxe, Doubleland Special & Jimi Hendrix Cry Baby Mini Demosrich@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25933Thu, 13 Jul 2017 15:25:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25933-snamm-17---mxr-way-huge-carbon-copy-deluxe-doubleland-special-jimi-hendrix-cry-baby-mini-demos
Tash Sultana: 6-String Superwomanhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25798Mon, 03 Jul 2017 15:45:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25798-tash-sultana-6-string-superwoman
Quick Hit: Way Huge Russian-Picklecharles@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25713Thu, 08 Jun 2017 06:00:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25713-quick-hit-way-huge-russian-pickle
Rig Rundown: Russian Circles [2017]chris@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25756Wed, 31 May 2017 15:50:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25756-rig-rundown-russian-circles-2017
01_Intro-WEB.jpgCo-founding member Mike Sullivan updates PG-er Chris Kies before the band’s show at the Ryman in Nashville, TN, on what has changed in his live setup since our 2013 episode that was shot while the band recorded Memorial. 02_2G6A1513_WEB.jpgMike’s current main squeeze is a 1985 Gibson Les Paul Custom that he bought in his hometown of Chicago at Rock N Roll Vintage. Since acquiring the guitar, he dropped in new pickups—a high-wound Lollar Imperial in the bridge and a standard Lollar Imperial in the neck. Sullivan goes with D’Addario NYXL .011–.056 strings and tunes this one to a DADGAD variant—C#-G#-D-G-C-A#. When it comes to picks, he’s been loyal to the Dunlop Max-Grip Jazz III since he found some inside a box for an Andy Timmons pedal. 03_2G6A1500_WEB.jpgSullivan’s backup is this ’81 Gibson Les Paul Custom (with the original pickups) and is reserved for songs in A-A-D-G-A-D tuning including a new song off 2016’s Guidance called “Afrika.”04_2G6A1507_WEB.jpgFor years, Sullivan has been a user of the mighty Verellen Meatsmoke, but for the band’s most recent run of European dates he opted for a Fender Super Bassman and hasn’t looked back. He relies on stompboxes for any dirt and drive, so he really enjoys the clean headroom his all-Fender lineup provides. It rests on and powers a standard Ampeg 8x10 cab. 05_2G6A1503_WEB.jpgMike runs two Twin Reverbs—one on each side of the stage—that are dialed in completely different. One is for the FOH engineer and is brighter and more crisp whereas the Twin on Mike’s side is turned to a bassier sound because he loves to feel the low-end thump when he’s playing. Both amps on his side are completely stock, but Mike admits that the Twin on the opposite side of the stage is the loudest and most unique Twin he’s heard because the tonal character has been effected in such a way from all the experimental tube swapping. As he put it, “I was like Stevie Wonder milkin' a cow!”06_20170517_185257_WEB.jpgSullivan has always been a pedal junkie and his stomp station is always in flux, but this is how it looked before the Nashville show at the Ryman: DigiTech Drop, Korg Pitchblack Mini, Dunlop DVP3 Volume Pedal, Xotic AC Booster, Strymon Dig, Strymon Flint, Akai E2 Headrush Delay/Looper, DigiTech JamMan, Bogner Wessex, Bogner Burnley, Saturnworks Pedals two-knob mixer (used controlling the dry/wet signal from his Headrush), Source Audio Nemesis, Xotic EP Booster, MXR Micro Amp, ZVEX Fuzz Factory, and a MXR Phase 90.The (Surprisingly Long) History of the Guitar Pickhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25204Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:45:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25204-the-surprisingly-long-history-of-the-guitar-pick
NAMM 2017 Editors' Picks Livestream Day 1chris@premierguitar.com
PG editors talk about their favorite new gear from Dunlop, PRS, Taylor, Laney, and more.]]>
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25221Thu, 19 Jan 2017 22:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25221-namm-2017-editors-picks-livestream-day-1
GALLERY: NAMM 2017 Day 1editor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25173Thu, 19 Jan 2017 19:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25173-gallery-namm-2017-day-1
GuildGuitars_M240E_WEB.jpg
Guild Guitars unveiled the new M-240E Troubadour at NAMM this year. Outfitted with a solid Sitka spruce top and arched mahogany laminate back, it features the new DeArmond ToneBoss passive humbucking soundhole pickup (also available separately for $89 street), and will go for $469 street with gigbag.JimDunlopGuitarProducts_ConquistadorFuzzstortion_WEB.jpg
Any desert rock fans out there? Jim Dunlop Guitar Products' Conquistador Fuzzstortion gives off a killer, gated "broken-cable" vibe. The internal fixed noise gate is a sputtery mess, but in a good way. Shipping now for $159. JimDunlopGuitarProducts_RussianPickleFuzz_WEB.jpg
The sound of late '90s grunge and garage rock is captured pretty well in Jim Dunlop Guitar Products' new Russian Pickle fuzz. It's definitely a muff-style vibe, but with better note clarity. MartinGuitar_LimitedEditionDreadnought_WEB.jpg
Martin Guitar celebrated their two millionth serial number with this unbelievably detailed dreadnought. It's strictly a museum piece, but there will be a limited-edition version that will set you back $150k.TaylorGuitars_GS-Mini-Bass_WEB.jpg
Early days still at Winter NAMM 2017, but the new Taylor Guitars GS Mini Bass has to be a contender for the most fun you can have at the show. The sapele and spruce thumper took some ingenuity to get together (designer Andy Powers had to have special nylon-core strings manufactured to make the idea work.) But it sounds fantastic, will probably record like a dream, and feels unexpectedly slinky, rubbery, and expressive. Look for a street price of around 600 bucks.TraynorAmps_SB106_WEB.jpg
Traynor Amps brought the SB106 bass combo to NAMM this year. The class-D power section runs 50 watts to the internal 6.5" speaker or 200 to the 1/4" output, and it also has a 4-band EQ with a low-end expander, active and passive inputs, an XLR DI out, headphone out, and aux in. It streets for $399.TaylorGuitars_Tecate_WEB.jpg
Taylor's new Tecate, Mexico-built Academy series--which consists of dreadnought, nylon string, and orchestra model (pictured here)--are bound to be major bang-for-the-buck championship contenders. They'll all be around 500 bucks without electronics and about $550 with pickup and preamp. The best thing about these simple and elegant spruce and sapele flattops though is that they're really satisfying to play and sound richer and fatter than the price suggests.Fender_AmericanProfessionalPineTelecaster_WEB.jpg
Fender's Exotic series includes this new American Professional Pine Telecaster. And it's hard not be intrigued about how that Lollar Charlie Christian pickup is going to sound in that light pine body (100 year old timber reclaimed from a Wisconsin furniture factory no less) blasting from an inappropriately loud Twin Reverb! Sign us up for the fireworks!Fender_Jazzmaster-_WEB.jpg
Unique eye candy from Fender's custom shop maestros always abounds at NAMM. This Jazzmaster with purple stabilized maple burl fretboard, matching pickguard, and re-housed Josefina hand wound pickups is especially striking, and representative of the wealth of one-of-a-kind specimens you see at Fender's expansive NAMM room.BOSS_CompactPedal_WEB.jpg
BOSS into infinity...and beyond! Boss brought one of every compact pedal the company ever made, and presented them in this display that looks like a room in some interstellar industrial hall of fame. Haven't seen an SG-1 in a long time! JAMPedals_RipplePhaser_WEB.jpg
When you add ring modulation to JAM Pedals' already awesome Ripple Phaser and heavenly Waterfall chorus it is, well, amazing. The combined sounds can range from rich and ethereal to downright demented. It also pairs seamlessly with fuzz as I found out in a self-led tour of its more bizarre sounds. Should street around 300 bones when it hits early this year.JAMPedals_Orpheus_WEB.jpg
The fellas from JAM pedals were representing the work of their fellow countryman Vasilios Fremediti at NAMM 2017, and this ash and rosewood Orpheus with P-90 and T-style pickups wound by Fremediti himself, managed to sound and feel familiar, vintage, new, unique, and just plain extraordinary all at once. What a nice sounding neck pickup! And while not cheap, the $2,800 price seems fair for a guitar with this much vibe.LaneyAmplification_100WattLA100_WEB.jpgLaney Amplification is celebrating Black Sabbath's 50th anniversary with this 100 watt version of the 60 watt LA 100 that Tony Iommi used on the eponymous Black Sabbath LP. (This more powerful version also has four EL34s rather than two.) The bummer is that there&#39;s only 50 of these units, but representatives hinted at wider production down the line. Commence your letter writing campaign now!!!AtomicAmps_AmpliFirebox_WEB.jpg
Atomic Amps, who impressed us with their Ampli-Fire amp modeler, brought their newest most compact modeler yet, the Ampli-Firebox. Though it doesn't have all the customizable functionality of its bigger brother, it has the same number of basic voices and advanced tailoring capabilities like impulse shaping which can be adjusted via a simplified version of the Ampli-Fire iOS interface. Compact and just $299, it's a sweet solution for modeling newbies or those who don't want to dive into deep editing.AsherGuitars_RobertRandolph_WEB.jpg
Slide wizard Robert Randolph & the Family Band draws a huge crowd at the Asher Guitars and Lap Steels booth.
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Annie Clark aka St. Vincent hanging at the Ernie Ball booth talking with main man Sterling Ball about her signature axe.Dunlop CBM105Q Cry Baby Mini Bass Wah Reviewhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25006Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:00:00 -0500https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25006-dunlop-cbm105q-cry-baby-mini-bass-wah-review
Dunlop John Petrucci JP95 Signature Cry Baby Wah Reviewhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24590Mon, 19 Sep 2016 15:00:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24590-dunlop-john-petrucci-jp95-signature-cry-baby-wah-review
Stranglehold: Kvelertak’s Maciek Ofstad and Bjarte Lund Rollandhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24509Thu, 25 Aug 2016 15:15:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24509-stranglehold-kvelertaks-maciek-ofstad-and-bjarte-lund-rolland
Quick Hit: Dunlop Volume (X) Minicharles@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24501Tue, 02 Aug 2016 06:00:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24501-quick-hit-dunlop-volume-x-mini
SNAMM '16 - MXR & Way Huge Super Badass Variac Fuzz, Camel Toe Mk II, & Double Double Overdrive Demosshawneditor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24356Sun, 26 Jun 2016 05:30:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24356-snamm-16-mxr-way-huge-super-badass-variac-fuzz-camel-toe-mk-ii-double-double-overdrive-demos
GALLERY: Summer NAMM 2016 Day 1editor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24304Thu, 23 Jun 2016 19:00:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24304-gallery-summer-namm-2016-day-1
01_SNAMM_D1_BrokenCrowAmps_BC-T20_WEB.jpgBroken Crow Amplification BC-T20
Broken Crow Amplification is a new company making their NAMM debut with some fine-looking amps. Their BC-T20 is a handwired affair based on classic American tweed designs that features two channels blended to drive each other, a shared tone control, and bright and heavy boost switches for uber clean tones to overdriven to all our screaming.
02_SNAMM_D1_LevysLeathers_SpecialEditionStrap_WEB.jpgLevy's Leather Special Edition Strap
Levy's Leathers Ltd. kicked off Summer NAMM‬ by presenting a check for $10,000 to Guitars for Vets, who help veterans with PTSD by providing them guitars for music therapy. 100 percent of a special edition Levy strap goes to the cause.
03_SNAMM_D1_TeyeGuitars_WEB.jpgTeye Knights Templar
The latest from guitar designer Teye: the Knights Templar. More in the pipeline for winter. Teye says the guitar features a new, more resonant construction.
04_SNAMM_D1_OldBloodNoiseEndeavors_Mondegreen_WEB.jpgOld Blood Noise Endeavors Mondegreen
Old Blood Noise Endeavors new Mondegreen digital delay is, in part, an octave or "shimmer" delay, but it's capable of being both more subtle and deeper sounding than many shimmer delays. The onboard modulation flavors include tremolo and chorus--adding up to copious delay shades. It'll hit the streets in August at $199. oldbloodnoise.com
05_SNAMM_D1_GuildGuitars_D40_WEB.jpgGuild Guitars D-40
Oh my dreadnaught! Guild Guitars is at Summer ‪‎NAMM‬ debuting the U.S. made D-40 here in Nashville. Featuring a Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and options like a burst finish and LR Baggs electronics, these workhorses start at $1,599.
06_SNAMM_D1_ToneLounge_Wedge_WEB.jpgToneLounge Wedge
ToneLounge's Wedge is a sweet mash up of Firebird and Fender offset influences that adds up to a pretty unique whole. The 25.5" scale and medium jumbo frets make it a string bender's delight and the body shape itself is both comfortable and balanced. It'll be $2,199 direct (with standard P-90s.)
07_SNAMM_D1_GuildGuitars_S200TBirds_WEB.jpgGuild Guitars S-200 T-Bird
On the electric side of their wares, Guild Guitars is showing off the new S-200 T-Birds. These anticipated reissues feature a Hagstrom Vintage Tremar, a pair of LB-1 humbuckers (replicas of the original Guild pickups), and a cornucopia of tones available through the unique control set.‪ ‬
08_SNAMM_D1_ToneLounge_Element_WEB.jpgToneLounge Element
ToneLounge's Element Is also new at Summer NAMM‬ 2016. The more Gibson-like cousin to the new Wedge has a 24.74" scale and medium jumbo frets as well as ToneLounge P-90s. It's light, compact, and primed to rip. $1,999 direct.
09_SNAMM_D1_Fender_MustangBass_WEB.jpgFender Mustang
Whether in the hands of Bill Wyman, Tina Weymouth, or Television's Fred Smith, the short scale Mustang bass was always an expressive, fast, and unique sounding bass. This new Mexico-built version unveiled at ‪NAMM ‬feels authentically original and at $549 street is among the most affordable Fender-branded basses.
10_SNAMM_D1_Fender_AlNiCo5P90_WEB.jpgFender P-90
In addition to the new AlNiCo 5-fitted standard Mustang. Fender also released this P-90 version at ‪NAMM‬. Like its brother 'Stang it's priced at $449 street.
11_SNAMM_D1_Fender_Mustang_WEB.jpgFender Mustang
Though the Mustang never really left the Fender line (several special editions and Modern Player versions have come and gone in recent years) this new version unveiled at ‪NAMM‬ is the first standard Fender 'Stang in a while. There are a few deviations from vintage spec--most notably the hard tail bridge. But they feel slinky, spanky, sassy at at $449 street are priced right too.
12_SNAMM_D1_BCRich_MK3Villain_WEB.jpgB.C. Rich MK3 Villain
Entry level shredders aren't left out at ‪NAMM‬ The revived B.C. Rich line returned to the Summer show, including the MK3 Villain with a bolt on maple neck, stock factory humbuckers, a 3-way switch, single volume and tone controls and Floyd Rose Special whammy, with a street price of $379.
13_SNAMM_D1_JangleBox_JBoost_WEB.jpgJangleBox J-Boost
JangleBox's new at ‪‎NAMM‬ J-Boost is a beautifully dynamic and touch sensitive boost with functionality that's enhanced by a very sensitive and rangy set of treble, mid, and bass controls. It's a heavenly match for a Telecaster as I discovered, but with such a tunable and transparent nature it's no doubt an ideal boost partner for any axe. $215 street.
14_SNAMM_D1_GogoTuners_HorizonTuner_WEB.jpgGoGo Tuners Horizon Chromatic Tuner
GoGo Tuners is taking things horizontal with the new Horizon chromatic tuner. It manages to cram a big display into a 3/4-size pedal while still offering up a wide detection range of -/+ 0.5 cent.
15_SNAMM_D1_323Effects_WEB.jpg323 Effects
Mo Nelson's 323 Effects company previously built limited edition effects for Pure Salem guitars. His own 323 branded effects debuted at ‪‎NAMM‬. Steel City $130 street) is a very nice JFET overdrive sounds great for Stonsey riffs!) His Ram's Head Muff clone ($120 street) is a very versatile take on the breed--with switchable Ge/Si clipping--and a smooth sustaining monster. The Timbers OD ($130) is a great sounding MOSFET/l.e.d. switchable unit. And the Ridges digital reverb ($175) switches between hall, spring, and a tasteful shimmer mode.
16_SNAMM_D1_LaRoseGuitars_Hollowbody_WEB.jpgLarose Guitars Hollowboy
Nashville's own Larose Guitars are masters of creative, recombinant lutherie--using cool combinations of cocobolo, alder, and maple, subtly splashy inlay, and Lollar pickup combinations that all come together in the company's familiar but dashingly original Hollowboy line. This one of a kind Hollowboy stopped many ‪NAMM‬ goers in their tracks. It features gorgeous art by company founder Todd D'Agostino's wife Chauntelle as well as a luxurious Madagascar Rosewood neck and fretboard, Lollar high wound Imperials and a quilted maple top.
17_SNAMM_D1_ESPGuitars_BK600_WEB.jpgESP Guitars BK-600
Mastodon's Bill Kelliher teamed up with ESP Guitars for a brand-new signature model, the BK-600. It features a robust mahogany body, 3-piece mahogany neck, and a pair of Bill's signature Lace Sensor pickups. It will street for $899.
18_SNAMM_D1_ReverendGuitars_JW-1_WEB.jpgReverend Guitars Jenn Wasner Signature JW-1
Reverend Guitars is here in Nashville showing off the new Jenn Wasner signature JW-1. Loaded up with a set of Reverend's custom humbuckers to deliver the dynamic power of their Charger HB model, this eye-grabbing axe features a front-side graphic from the textile designer who creates Wasner's stage wear.
19_SNAMM_D1_HeritageGuitars_H-157W_WEB.jpgHeritage H-157W
Heritage brought this new variation of its signature solidbody, the H-157W (the W is for 'western'). The curly maple top is s knockout, and it comes fitted with ThroBak P.A.F. Style humbuckers.
20_SNAMM_D1_MCSystems_GLA_WEB.jpgMC Systems GLA
Sydney's MC SYSTEMS very discreetly hinted at the development of their new line at Winter ‪NAMM‬, but did a official release here in Nashville. The GLA all-in-one bass stomp (the GLA airport designation honors Jack Bruce's Glaswegian roots) includes optical compressor and copious drive and EQ shaping options.
21_SNAMM_D1_BlackCat_MonsterKFuzz_WEB.jpgBlack Cat Pedals Monster K-Fuzz
Black Cat Pedals is here at summer ‪NAMM‬ with a brand-new fuzz machine called the Monster K-Fuzz. It's a roaring, hot-rodded take on the '60s Kay Fuzztone and pairs nicely with an expression pedal to control the fuzz frequency.
22_SNAMM_D1_Daredevil_WEB.jpgDaredevil Pedals Fearless Distortion & Red Light District
Chicago's Daredevil Pedals typically brings something cool to Nashville‪ ‎NAMM‬. This year it was this two-beastie complement of Op-Amp based distortion boxes, the Fearless Distortion ($159) and the Red Light District distortion. Both are based on the same basic Op-Amp circuit and have switchable hi/low gain settings that enable the pedals to range from light Faces-style crunch to much more in-your-face distortion. The Red Light District adds a killer switchable and tunable scoop control that dishes tight, stony, and super-heavy desert rock sounds among other super-sick tones.
23_SNAMM_D1_AJPeat_WEB.jpgAJ Peat
First-time ‪NAMM‬ exhibitor AJ Peat brought out four brand-new pedals for the Nashville show. Over the years Peat has built effects for Warren Haynes, Rev. Horton Heath, Mike Ness, and many more. From left to right we have the Rooster Booster, Screaming Flamingo, Dirty Buzzard, and Wild Goose.
24_SNAMM_D1_FryetteAmps_SoundCity_WEB.jpgFryette Amplicication Sound City Master Hundred
Fryette Amplification head honcho/tube-amp genius Steven Fryette has revived the Sound City brand this ‪‎NAMM‬ with the intent of bringing the late, great Dave Reeves' famed brawny tones into the 21st century. Featuring PCB construction and Heyboer transformers similar to the old Partridge designs, the Master Fifty and Master Hundred (shown) feature EL34 power sections, a unique and highly interactive triple-volume section (normal, brilliant, and master), plus a 3-band EQ and presence control. To our ears, the amps—which hover around the $2k mark—sounded glorious through the rear-loaded 4x12 and 2x12 cabs with repro Fane speakers.
25_SNAMM_D1_MartinGuitars_WEB.jpgMartin Guitar LE-Cowboy 2016
Martin Guitar came to ‪NAMM‬ with the second installment in their series featuring the art of celebrated Western painter William Matthews. The LE-Cowboy 2016 ($4,999 list) will only be available is year, and features a solid Sitka spruce top with Vintage Tone System, as well as quilted solid mahogany back and sides. The instrument comes with copies of both Matthews' book "Working the West" and his DVD "Drawn to Paint."
26_SNAMM_D1_CusackMusic_PedalCracker_WEB.jpgCusack Music Pedal Cracker
Cusack Music's Pedal Cracker allows vocalists (or even horn players) to mix guitar effects alongside their guitar signal. The small mini-toggle switch gives you the option of letting trails fade off into the distance. It will retail for $250 and should be out in a few months.
27_SNAMM_D1_SeymourDuncan_WEB.jpgSeymour Duncan Palladium
During our ‪‎NAMM‬ video-demo shoot of Seymour Duncan's new Palladium preamp $299 street), we were shocked to find that its super-tweakable gain, boost, and parametric EQ controls were so powerful they turned a trad Tele into a ferociously convincing metal machine. Meanwhile, the tamer Forza availed a variety of classic-rock dirt tones via 3-band EQ and drive and tone knobs.
28_SNAMM_D1_Fender_WEB.jpgFender '57 Classic Tweed Deluxe
Fender brought out a whole line of '57 Classic tweed reissues including the Champ, Twin, Pro, and the 6V6-powered Deluxe shown here. It features the classic 12-watt 5E3 circuit with Pure Vintage "Yellow" paper/foil/resin tone capacitors. The first ones should be hitting stores in September.
29_SNAMM_D1_TheLoar_WEB.jpgThe Loar LG-360T & L-014
The Loar came to Nashville ‪NAMM‬ with two mid-priced new axes—the Bigsby and Loar'Tron-equipped LG-360T hollowbody (left, available in green or orange for $699 street) and the L-014 flattop ($499 street), which features a solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, and a body that's deeper than your typical 00-style.
30_SNAMM_D1_AnalogOutfitters_SuperSarge_WEB.jpgAnalog Outfitters Super Sarge 1x12
Analog Outfitters is here in Nashville with a few killer new combos including the Super Sarge 1x12. This class-A, 30-watt combo is packed with four EL84s, a pair of 12AX7s, and a 5U4 rectifier. Anticipated street price is $2,299.
31_SNAMM_D1_OvationGuitars_CelebrityElitedoubleneck_WEB.jpgOvation Guitars Celebrity Elite Doubleneck
Double the fun! Ovation Guitars is bringing back the Celebrity Elite doubleneck. This one features a ruby red finish, spruce top, rosewood fretboard, and Op-24+ electronics. It will street for $1,200.
32_SNAMM_D1_Dunlop_WEB.jpgJim Dunlop Super Badass Variac Fuzz, Double Double Overdrive, & Camel Toe MkII
Jim Dunlop Guitar Products came to NAMM with a trio of new nasties. The Super Badass Variac Fuzz ($129 street) features a voltage-starve control and massive output for tones that range from mangy overdrive too bloated bee buzzes, while the treble- and bass-knob-equipped Double Double Overdrive ($129 street) aims to put its own flexible tweaks on two of the most popular dirt stomps ever—the famed Japanese green meanies of yore and an"obsessive" boutique box of more recent vintage. Meanwhile, the Camel Toe MkII ($279) is a limited-run reissue that lets you choose Green Rhino MkIV distortion, Red Llama dirt (plus a new hi-cut control), or both in series.
33_SNAMM_D1_SeagullGuitars_WEB.jpgSeagull Guitars Concert Hall CW
Seagull Guitars had their new 12-string in tow at summer ‪NAMM‬. The sunburst-finished Concert Hall CW features EPM electronics with a built-in tuner, wild cherry back and sides, rosewood fretboard and bridge, and a solid spruce top. How much for this built-in-Canada beauty? $699 street.
34_SNAMM_D1_Boss_CE-2W_WEB.jpgBoss CE-2w
Every pedal in Boss' recent Waza Craft line has been pretty great. What's particularly cool about the CE-2w is that it resurrects the much adored CE-2 and adds a setting that replicates the deep and equally classic CE-1. There's also a very cool vibrato setting making the CE-2w one of the most potent Waza Craft machines yet. $199 street.
35_SNAMM_D1_MedeaGuitarEffects_RedCatGreenFox.jpgMEDEA Guitar Effects Red Cat Distortion & Green Fox Overdrive
Italy's MEDEA Guitar Effects is in Nashville with a few new pedals including the Red Cat distortion and Green Fox overdrive shown here. What's really cool about these stompboxes is the ability to store up to 10 patches and scroll through them via the secondary footswitch. ‬
36_SNAMM_D1_SonicFarmAudio_Tantra_WEB.jpgSonic Farm Audio 1200-watt Class D Tantra Bass Head
Sonic Farm Audio came to NAMM with its new 1200-watt class D Tantra bass head ($2,799 street), which features a truly stunning array of tweakable features, from parametric EQ to built-in studio-quality compression, effects loop, DI, overdrive, mute, and more. Paired with collaborator Michael Arnopol Soundworks' proprietary cabinet technology ($999), which features unique internal porting and eight drivers—four 6.5" speakers, three 3.5" tweeters, and a horn—the Tantra sounds warm and massive, yet alive with detailed nuance.
37_SNAMM__D1_Amptweaker_WEB.jpgAmptweaker Bass TightRock Jr, Bass TightDrive Jr, & Bass TightMetal Jr
Amptweaker is in town with a trio of new pedals for dirt-loving bassists. The Bass TightRock Jr, Bass TightDrive Jr, and Bass TightMetal Jr all feature a side-mount dry low knob, a fat/normal/tight switch to adjust the attack, and a noise-gate knob for subtle gating to hard stops. The pedals run on 9V for heavier, compressed sounds or 18V for more open and less distorted tone.
38_SNAMM_D1_BillheadAmplification_Matador20_WEB.jpgBullhead Amplification Matador 20
Nashville's Bullhead Amplification, Inc didn't travel far to ‪‎NAMM‬, but their new Matador 20 watt head bridged continents thanks to its British tone profile option. The single-channel workhorse has two 6V6s and three 12AX7s, and was paired on the floor with Bullhead's own Greenback stocked 4x12.
Tools for the Task: Alternative Material Picksrich@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24185Fri, 10 Jun 2016 06:00:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24185-tools-for-the-task-alternative-material-picks
Divide and Conquer: Asking Alexandria’s Ben Bruce and Cameron Liddellhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24093Fri, 03 Jun 2016 06:00:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24093-divide-and-conquer-asking-alexandrias-ben-bruce-and-cameron-liddell
Rig Rundown: Zakk Wyldeeditor@premierguitar.comhttp://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24219Wed, 25 May 2016 15:45:00 -0400https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/24219-rig-rundown-zakk-wylde
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PG&rsquo;s John Bohlinger hung with Zakk Wylde before soundcheck during the Nashville stop of the Generation Axe tour. Wylde, an intimidating muscle-bound shred monster turned out to be perhaps the nicest guy on the planet, is a renaissance man, and a titian of industry. Zakk humbly took us through his rig full of newly-launched Wylde Audio wares.
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The guitars Wylde tours with are the same off-the-shelf models that are available through Wylde Audio. Typically, the Black Label Society frontman hangs on to one axe through an entire set and on this particular night this Warhammer model got the call. It features a mahogany body, maple neck, ebony fretboard, Floyd Rose tremolo, and a set of Wylde&rsquo;s signature EMG pickups.
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Wylde also plays this Wylde Audio&nbsp;Viking V. It has nearly identical specs as the Warhammer, but with a pinstripe finish.
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Another tour favorite is this Wylde Audio Warhammer with a vertigo graphic over a flame maple top.All guitars are strung up with Dunlop Heavy Core strings (.010&ndash;.013&ndash;.017&ndash;.028&ndash;.038&ndash;.048).
Amps
After a lifetime of playing Marshall amps, Wylde designed his own amps that take his favorite aspects and tweaks it to his ear. Wylde tours with two Wylde Audio Master Model 100-watt heads, one white and one black.&nbsp;
Cabs
He runs the Model 100s into two 4x12 cabs with EV custom-designed speakers.
FX
Wylde Audio is currently in the process of designing some pedals, but until they are finished, the metal lord populates his board with a variety of stomps from Dunlop. Using Monster Cable out of his guitar, he plugs into a Dunlop ZW-45 Zakk Wylde Signature Wah, Dunlop ZW357 Zakk Wylde Signature Rotovibe, MXR Uni-Vibe, MXR ZW90 Wylde Phaser, MXR ZW44 Berzerker Overdrive, and a MXR Carbon Copy delay. He keeps a Keith McMillen Batt-O-Meter handy because he takes the old-school approach of loading 9V batteries in each pedal.Zakk Wylde: Still No Rest for the Wickededitor@premierguitar.com
Book of Shadows II.]]>
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